1809 in New Zealand

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1809 in New Zealand:
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Foveaux Strait is the centre of attention for sealing ships. Sealing gangs are dropped along the coast from southern Fiordland to Otago Harbour and on Stewart Island/Rakiura. The Bay of Islands is sometimes on the journey to or from Port Jackson. The Chatham Islands are also visited.[1] A few whalers also operate around New Zealand, some also collect timber from Bay of Islands.[1]

In November the Boyd massacre occurs in Whangaroa Harbour. It is preciptated by ill-treatment of a Māori crew member. There are only 4 survivors and the ship is later accidentally set on fire. It takes several months for all vessels operating around New Zealand hear what has happened and through confusion and misrepresentation the wrong chief is blamed.[1]

Māori are taken on as crew/peassengers on various vessels that travel throughout the Pacific and also to England.[1]

Contents

[edit] Incumbents

[edit] Regal and Vice Regal

[edit] Events

  • January or February – The Speke, Captain John Hingston, arrives in the Bay of Islands. Captain Hingston has chief Te Pahi flogged for not being able to produce a stolen axe.[1]
  • 1 March – The City of Edinburgh arrives in the Bay of Islands, returning chief (Maa-)Tara from Port Jackson. Tara dies of bronchitis some months later (possibly July-September).[1]
  • 12 March - The Sydney Gazette refers to Foveaux Strait, the first recorded usage of the name.[3]
  • 16 July – The sealing ship Pegasus, Captain Samuel Chace, arrives at ‘Pegasus Island’ (now known as Codfish Island).[1][4][5]
  • July – Ruatara arrives in London on the Santa Anna. He is not allowed to see King George as he had hoped. 15 days later the captain of the Santa Anna puts him on board the convict ship Ann which is heading to Port Jackson.[6]
  • 7 August – The Pegasus discovers Port Pegasus on Stewart Island/Rakiura.[1][4][7]
  • 28 August – The convict ship Ann leaves England with Samuel Marsden and William Hall and John King and their wives as passengers. Marsden discovers Ruatara on board.[6][8][9][10]
  • August(-September?) – The Pegasus circumnavigates Stewart Island which is charted by First Officer William Stewart and later named in his honour.[1][4][11]
  • September – The Pegasus is at the Chatham Islands. William Stewart finishes charting the islands left incomplete by their discoverer William R. Broughton.[11]
  • October(?) – The Pegasus is the first European ship to enter Lyttelton Harbour (in attempting to circumnavigate Bank’s ‘Island’), and also charts Pegasus Bay.[1][7][12][13][14]
    • – The Fox leaves a sealing gang in Foveaux Strait under Robert Murry. Murry learns the Māori language and provides the first detailed decription of Māori culture in the area.[1]
  • 8 November – The Boyd, Captain John Thompson, leaves Port Jackson for New Zealand with two Māori as crew including Te Aara (‘George’). During the trip George is flogged for not working as instructed.[1]
  • December – The Boyd arrives in Whangaroa Harbour. George tells his father Piopio and other members of his tribe of his maltreatment. Several days later tribes from Whangaroa and Hokianga, apparently led by Te Puhi (not Te Pahi) attack the ship and kill, and eat, most of the passengers and crew. Several of the crew take refuge in the rigging but later when Te Pahi (who was not involved in the massacre) tries to save them they run off and are killed. There are five other survivors, a women, 2 young children, a cabin boy and the second mate. The second mate is enslaved and put to work but when he proves of no use he is also killed.[1][15]
  • Late December – The City of Edinburgh, Captain Simeon Pattison, arrives in the Bay of Islands. Alexander Berry rescues the four survivors of the Boyd, and also the ship’s papers (including some of his own). He is told that Te Pahi led the attack and leaves notes for visiting vessels to that effect. The City of Edinburgh then leaves for Peru.[1][16]


[edit] Undated

Late 1808 or early this year the Unity, Captain Daniel Cooper, is the first ship to definitely enter Otago Harbour. For a while it is called 'Port Daniel' by visiting sealers. Hooper's Inlet, on the seaward side of the Otago Peninsula is named for the Unity's First Officer Charles Hooper.

[edit] Births

[edit] Deaths

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Salmond, Anne. Between Worlds. 1997. Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd. ISBN 0 670 87787 5.
  2. ^ Dictionary of Australian Biography: Lachlan Macquarie
  3. ^ Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p.106.
  4. ^ a b c NZETC: Stewart Island Exploited 1809 and 1810
  5. ^ Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p.69.
  6. ^ a b New Zealand Encyclopaedia 1966: Ruatara Biography
  7. ^ a b Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p.342.
  8. ^ Dictionary of New Zealand Biography: Samuel Marsden
  9. ^ New Zealand Encyclopaedia 1966: Samuel Marsden Biography
  10. ^ Dictionary of New Zealand Biography: Ruatara
  11. ^ a b Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p.404
  12. ^ Early European Visits to NZ
  13. ^ Early Christchurch
  14. ^ Wises New Zealand Guide, 7th Edition, 1979. p.212.
  15. ^ The Boyd Massacre
  16. ^ Dictionary of New Zealand Biography: Te Pahi

[edit] See also

For world events and topics in 1809 not specifically related to New Zealand see: 1809